Page 21 of Reckless Kiss

“We’ve all been invited to dinner at the Brown’s this weekend. My boss is very upset about the sale.”

Hope nodded as if this made perfect sense. “Well good luck. Stay on the good side of that asshole. I hear the bad side is a cold and dark place to be.”

“But from who? If no one talks about it, no one reports on it, how does anyone know anything?”

She smirked a little. Probably finding me dense and ridiculous. “Because the people whodoknow, like your boss, smart people in powerful positions, they’re scared.”

I did not enjoy absence of information. I did not typically rely on other people’s authority or information. I made my own decisions and while I trusted Marie completely, it wasn’t going to stop me from looking for answers.

I let it go. The game was a good one and my friends much preferred to watch it than listen to me grump about a team owner. I noticed how seamlessly Hope folded into our group. She cracked jokes with Mary, but especially Jeffry, made a concoction of nachos, wings, and potatoes that nearly made John cry, kept up with the stream of stats that Grant always mumbled in the background.

In a way it was like she’d always been part of the group instead of a woman I’d just picked up at a bar. She was totally up front about that too.

“I was in a bad way and Leo here shagged it right out of me,” she said with a shrug and grateful smile.

John chuckled. “That’s our Leo. Glad to have you as part of the crew.”

And that was that.

Well other than some odd comments from Jeffry, but I assumed that was simply because after dinner with Esme last night he’d kissed her. The poor man was flustered and probably bluer than the shade of midnight.

“It was just...whoa. She’s made of electricity. I’m sure of it.”

I eyed him. “That’s simply not possible.” Except I knew it to be true.

“Yeah, well, it sure felt that way. It was just a peck, really. We talked all through dinner. We barely stopped to eat. She’s brilliant, man. Simply brilliant to talk to.”

Now that was something I wouldn’t know as well as Jeffry. We bantered over dinner. Flirted with words. Sparred with stubborn personality. But we didn’t reallytalk.

“So I walked her up to her door. You know, to be gentlemanly, and she turned back to say goodnight and I just knew if I didn’t do something I’d be friend-zoned for life. So I did that thing women like. I brushed some of her hair over her shoulder and kissed her.”

“Was it really a peck?” Hope asked, very invested in our conversation I didn’t even know she’d been listening to. “Or was it more of a long press?”

“Does it matter?” Jeffry asked.

“Well of course. A peck is unsatisfying. It’s brief and kind of, I don’t know,” she looked at the ceiling, searching for a word.

I supplied the correct answer. “Cowardly.”

“Yes!” Her eyes locked with mine and sparkled, remembering our explosive and very un-peck-like bathroom kisses. “Pecks are cowardly. But a nice long, chaste press of the lips is intentional. It’s full of promise and leaves you wanting more.”

I shifted in my seat as I thought of all the long, electric times I’d pressed my lips to Esme’s skin.

“It was definitely a press of the lips then,” Jeffry nodded matter-of-factly.

“So next time—there is a next time right?” Hope leaned closer to Jeffry, taking over my job as counsel.

“Well yeah. I thought I’d ask her to lunch again this week.”

Hope frowned. “It has to be more intimate that grabbing a quick meal if you want to stay out of the friend-zone.”

“Like what?” Jeffry croaked, overwhelmed as always.

“You said you eat outside? Make a picnic, off from everyone else, just the two of you.”

She was good. Really good. “You can be my wingman any time.” I tilted my bottle of beer her way.

She clinked it with hers. “I was actually thinking about that just now. You ever need a partner? I’m here. Or if there’s a guy...I mean I know dudes don’t want help in this department, but I don’t see why I can’t offer up a dating option like you do.”

Jeffry seemed almost shocked by her offer. “But why?”

She shrugged. “It’s fun. And simple. Andneeded,you know? Sometimes it’s nice to justneedsome contact and not have to worry about the world ending.”

My entire life philosophy.

Hope chatted with Jeffry for the rest of the afternoon, giving him far more advice and encouragement than I ever could. Luckily John, Grant, and Mary were still interested in the game and we managed to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon in front of my television.

Rest I was very grateful for come Saturday night.

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